Feeding and taping machine



July 12, 1966 B. c. BLAIR FEEDING AND TAPING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 9, 1965 INVENTOR. 50m C. 81412 July 12, 1966 Filed Dec. 9, 1963 B. C. BLAIR FEEDING AND TAPING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 50w 6. BLAIR BY WM% ATTORNEYS July 12, 1966 B. c. BLAIR 3,260,516

FEEDING AND TAPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. OVA 6. 31/1/12 ATTORNEYS July 12, 1966 B. c. BLAIR 3,

FEEDING AND TAPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1963 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS July 12, 1966 B. c. BLAIR FEEDING AND TAPING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 9, 1963 INVENTOR. 50m 6 31412 BY WM MM ATTORNEYS l July 12, 1966 B. c. BLAIR 3,260,516

FEEDING AND TAPING MACHINE Filed Dec. 9, 1963 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 hm Nm.

ATTORNEYS July 12, 1966 c, BLAlR 3,260,516

FEEDING AND TAPING MACHINE INVENTOR. 50x0 6. 544/2 United States Patent 3,260,516 FEEDING AND TAPING MACHINE Boyd C. Blair, Topeka, Kane, assignor to Brackett Stripping Machine Co., Inc., a corporation of Kansas Filed Dec. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 328,861 19 Claims. (Cl. 27057) This invention relates to feeding and taping machines wherein two or more items of paper sheets or the like are fed in sequence from stacks, moved along defined paths into alignment or registry of certain edges, and are then taped together to form sets as they are moved to the delivery point of the connected pieces or items, and more particularly to a machine in which items or work pieces such as signatures and back and flyleaf members of books are fed in successive order and moved into relative overlying relationship with the back edges \and/ or folds at a predetermined spacing or registering to form sets that are then glued and tipped or plain tipped and a tape or strip applied thereto in continuous form with the individual sets being subsequently separated by a knife movable through the strips at the points of spacing between the adjacent sets.

In the making of books and the like, particularly those having a plurality of pages arranged in groups such as signatures, and having hard backs, a fiyleaf and back leaf are secured to the outermost signatures and then the back leaf secured to the respective hard back. Usually, each time the book is opened the back is hinged relative to the adjacent signatures and otherwise moved or handled whereby the connections are subjected to substantial wear and tear. The present invention contemplates handling items wherein the back and flyleaves at both the front and back of the book are connected together along a fold line; in other words, the back leaf and fiyleaf member being of a single folded sheet, and said folded sheet positioned in overlying relation to the front of the first book signature and another at the back of the last signature with the respective back edges in registry and a strip of tape folded over the registered back edges and secured to the outermost faces of the back sheet and the signature set so that margins adjacent the folds of both are confined within the folded strip. The invention also contemplates handling other types of connections of fly leaf and/or backing sheet structures, as for example where the back edges of the signatures are spaced above or inwardly of the back edge of the fly leaf and the margin thereof folded around the back of the signature and secured thereto by tipping or the like and then reinforcing the edge by a cloth strip secured thereto. After the signatures are suitably secured together and applied to the hard backs, the back sheets are adhered to the inner surfaces of the hard backs. This provides increased strength and long life.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a machine for processing two or more different items or work pieces having sheets and arranged in respective stacks, with feed means for the stacks and transfer means to move the work pieces in successive order from the stacks to spaced apart positions on a defined path of travel and mechanism to effect movement of the work pieces along said path to an overlying substantially reg istering position with back edges in a selected relationship and then movement together as sets with one set closely spaced from another and back edges exposed, and glue and tip or plain tip and then apply a continuous strip of tape to margins adjacent said back edges and in folded overlying relation to said back edges to secure said Work pieces of the sets together and then sever the tape between the sets; to provide such a machine with continually moving stack-advancing members with the sheets or signa- "Ice tures in the stacks positioned on edges on said member and cooperating with stop members for engaging the leading work piece and limiting the advancing thereof; to provide such a structure with movable suction members for engaging and removing the leading work piece or sheets in sequence from the stack and depositing same in a receiving point of the defined path for subsequent travel therealong; to provide a miss detection mechanism that operates to stop the machine in response to failure of the suction members to remove a work piece from the stack; to provide such a structure wherein the advancing means includes a plurality of spaced parallel continuous movable flexible members that are adjustably supported for variation in the lateral spacing therebetween for accommodating different width sheets and signatures and like work pieces; to provide a continuous flexible member with spaced lugs or fingers movably mounted thereon for engaging rearmost edges of the sheets or signatures in the defined path therealong with guide means for retaining said lugs in sheet-engaging position and means selectively positioned adjacent said defined path for effecting disengagement of the lugs from the sheets as said sheets are engaged by a receiving conveyor; to provide such a structure wherein the lug release mechanism is adjustable relative to the receiving conveyor for accommodating different lengths of sheets whereby in cooperation with the speed of operation the spacing between the sets as they are received by the receiving conveyor is adjusted to a desired spacing; to provide the machine with a plurality of guides and conveying mechanism for feeding work pieces such as signatures and back and flyleaves to respective stations and automatically moving same into registry and advancing same to a forward conveyor at a selected spacing between sets and then stripping the sets to secure the parts thereof together; and to provide a machine for feeding signatures and backing and flyleaves, forming sets, tipping or gluing and taping same that is capable of high speed operation yet accurately positions the parts and processes same in a facile, economical manner and that is easily adjustable to .accommodate variations in sizes of the work pieces.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a feeding, positioning and taping machine for signatures and back and flyleaves therefor embodying the features of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of said machine.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the feeding and positioning portion of the machine taken on the line 33, FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial plan view of the work piece receiving stations and advancing member tracks or guides.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view through the mechanism for transferring the work pieces from the feed stacks to the receiving stations of the paths on which they are moved to registering positions.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the transfer mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view through one end of the stack feeding mechanism.

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the other end of the stack feeding mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a detail partial perspective view of the work piece moving lugs and the release members thereof.

FIG. 10 is a horizontal sectional view of the guide tracks and propelling lug as it is withdrawn from engagement with the work pieces advanced thereby.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged detail sectional view through a safety clutch in the drive mechanism.

FIG. 12 is a plan View of a set moving mechanism to provide spacing therebetween as they are received and moved by the belt conveyors.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a set of signature and flyleaf and backing sheets secured together.

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic view of the system for stopping the machine in the event the suction devices miss moving an item from the feed stack.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

The reference numeral 1 generally designates a machine for feeding, aligning and securing together two or more sheet items and delivering the connected items as a unit or set to a delivery point for use or further processing. The machine 1, as illustrated, has two major sections 2 and 3, the section 2 receiving items to be joined, feeding said items in sequence and moving same into registry or the relative position the items are to have in the finished unit and presenting them to the section 3. The section 3 is a stripping or taping section which receives the units or sets having the collective items, moves the sets in a path in spaced apart relation, applies tape to secure the items of the respective sets together, then cuts the tape between adjacent sets whereby the units or sets are delivered to the delivery point as separate sets. The machine illustrated is particularly adapted for combining backing and flyleaf members to book signatures and has feeding stations 4 and 5 each adapted to have a plurality of the respective item to be fed therefrom and continually present a leading item for movement therefrom in timed relation to subsequent processing mechanism of the machine. While only two feeding stations are shown, it is to be understood that additional feeding stations could be applied and utilized where more than two items are to be combined in the collected sets or units.

In the processing of book signatures and the securing of back and flyleaves thereto, the sheet size may vary and also the thickness of the signatures, but even with those variables it is necessary that certain edges of the flyleaf or backing sheets be properly positioned relative to certain edges of the sheets of the signatures. In some structures the edges that will be :at the back of the finished book should be together or registering. In other book binding methods the end or backing sheets are folded offset with the open ends toward the back and when positioned with the signature the long leaf is adjacent thereto and the back or free edge is beyond the folded back edge of the signature the extent it is to fold or wrap therearound. As the collected units or sets move through the machine section 3, they are glued and tipped or plain tipped as desired and a strip or tape 6 is applied to the margins adjacent the back edges 7 of the set 8 of the signature and backing and flyleaf to reinforce same. The sets are closely spaced and in alignment whereby a single strip of tape 6 may be applied to the units as they move in a line thereby using a minimum amount of tape. In the structure illustrated, the signatures 9 are positioned upright with the fold 10 downwardly. Also, the item 11 of the backing and flyleaf member preferably is formed of a single sheet with a fold 11' and the backing sheet 12 and flyleaf sheet 13 together, and these items are arranged in a group also in an upright postion with the fold line 11' or the back edge portion downwardly and arranged relative to the feeding and moving apparatus whereby when moved into registry with the respective signature the flyleaf 13 will be adjacent said signature 9 and the backing sheet 12 outwardly so it is available for securing to a hard back of a binding or the like.

In the structure illustrated, the feeding stations 4 and 5 are substantially side by side and preferably above and laterally of a collecting and registering portion 14 wherein the signatures 9 and flyleaf items 11 are received or collected and moved into registry with each other and then delivered in sequence to the stripping section 3 of the machine for further processing. Each of the sections 4 and 5 have laterally spaced conveyor members 15 and 16 arranged to support respective signatures 9 or flyleaf items 11 and move same to a delivery point from which they are transferred one by one to the collecting section or station 14. These sections 4 and 5 are in the upper portion of the machine section 2 which, in the illustrated structure, consists of a base 17 suitably mounted on support members such as rollers 18 in order to provide mobility which permits the structure to be moved from one place to another. However, it is to be understood that the machine sections 2 and 3 could be fixed in position on a stationary support, if desired. Spaced transverse walls 19, 20 and 21 are upstanding from the base 17 and are connected at their upper portion by a longitudinal tie member or rail 22. It is preferred that the walls 19 and 21 be at respective ends of the machine section 2 and that the wall 20 be an intermediate wall and positioned between the feeding sections 4 and 5.

On the base 17 is mounted a motor-driven air pump 23 to provide a source of suction for use as later described, said pump being between the walls 20 and 21. Between the walls 19 and 20 on transverse frame members 24, there is a motor 24' operatively connected by a power transmission means 25 with a variable speed mechanism 26 having an output shaft 27, the speed of which can be varied by means of a control 28. The transmission mechanism 25, in the illustrated structure, includes an operative connection from the motor 24 as by a chain 29 to a countershaft 30 supported in bearings 31 carried by the walls 19 and 29. The shaft 30 has a sprocket 32 fixed thereon operatively connected by a chain 33 to a sprocket 34 on an input shaft 35 of the variable speed mechanism 26.

The feed conveyors 15 and 16 in the sections 4 and 5 are preferably operatively connected through transmission mechanism With the output shaft 27 of the variable speed mechanism 26. The thicknesses of the items in the sections may differ, and, therefore, it may be desirable to have a different rate of travel of the conveyors in the respective sections to urge the items to the delivery point and thereby a variation in the speed of the respective conveyors. In order to provide such a variation, the con- -veyors or feeders of section 4 have a variable speed ,by the sprocket 40 through a safety clutch 43 and said shaft is operatively connected by a chain 44 with a sprocket 45 on a countershaft 46. The countershaft 46 is operatively connected by chains 47 and 48 respectively to drive input shafts of the variable speed machanisms 36 and 37 with the output shafts of said mechanisms connected by driving members enclosed in housings 49 and 50 to shafts 51 on which are mounted sprockets 52 to drive the chains 53 that make up the feed conveyors 15 and 16.

In the structure illustrated, the conveyors chains 53 are of a link type with the upper runs of each moving from the sprockets 52 in a respective guide track member 55 that is mounted on and extends from hearing members 56 on the shafts 51. The other ends of the track members 55 have bearing members 57 which carry shafts 58 mounting rollers 59 that are guide rollers for the delivery ends of the respective conveyor chains 53. The lower runs 60 of the feeder chain extend under a swingably mounted biased idler take-up roller 61 to apply tension to the chain and take up slack therein, so that the upper runs of the chains move inwardly from the shafts 51 to the guide rollers 59. The inner portions of the tracks 55 are supported on a longitudinal bar 62 fixed by brackets 63 to the wall members 19, 20 and 21.

The outer or exposed surfaces of the chain links are machined or otherwise formed whereby they cooperate to present edges 64 in a planar formation, that is, all of the edges of the links facing upwardly in the upper run are in a single plane and support the fold edges of the signature and fly sheets respectively positioned thereon and provide an engagement that tends to move same to the delivery end of the feeder conveyors but without any protrusions so there is only frictional engagement that allows the chains to slip when the sheet items are held against forward movement. Mounted on the walls 19 and 20 are rails 65 presenting edges 66 spaced above the track members 55 to engage side edges of the signatures and fly sheets moved on the respective feeder conveyors. It is preferred that the rails 65 and the feeder conveyor runs in the tracks 55 be inclined slightly downwardly to the delivery end.

Adjacent to and spaced upwardly from the delivery ends of the feed conveyors are stop members 67 fixed to arms 67' that are adjustably mounted on the rail or member 22 for selective positioning vertically relative to the feeder conveyors and transversely thereof preferably to position the stop members 67 substantially midway the length of the respective signature 9 or fly sheet members 11 adjacent the top edges as they are positioned in the feeding sections with the fold lines engaged with the feeding conveyors. The stops 67 cooperate with adjustable stops 68 mounted on the track members 55 at the delivery end of the feed conveyors and adapted to be engaged by the portion of the signatures or fly sheets adjacent the folded edge thereof to hold same at the delivery end until it is taken therefrom, as later described. Each of the stops 6% are preferably a flat spring member with one end secured as at 69 to the respective track and extending therefrom to the delivery end thereof where such stop member has a return bend upwardly and rearwardly terminating in an end 70 adapted to engage the respective signature or fly sheet. The amount of engagement is adjusted by an adjusting screw 71 threadedly mounted in the track member 55 and engaging the under surface of the respective stop 68 adjacent the end 70 thereof to move same up and down relative to the planar edge surfaces 64 of said conveyor chains. These stops also aid in holding the next item when the foremost item is moved from the feeding stack. To facilitate movement of the outermost item, a plurality of rollers 72 are mounted on each of a plurality of shafts 73, 74 and 75 adjustably mounted in brackets 76 carried on the walls 19, 20 and 21 with the rollers 72 below the stop 67 and above the stop 68 and positioned to be engaged by the foremost item in the feeding stack as it is moved therefrom.

A horizontal table or platform member 77 is carried by the frame walls 19, 20 and 21 preferably supported by brackets 78 secured thereto below the variable speed drive means 36 and 37 in the sections 4 and 5. These members extend outwardly beyond the wall edges 79 and serve to support work material before being placed on the conveyors and 16. It is preferred that the table top member or platform 77 be spaced downwardly on a level below the delivery ends of the conveyors 15 and 16 a distance slightly greater than the dimension from the folded edges to the opposed edges of a signature 9 or fiyleaf member 11 'to be handled by the machine.

Driven from the shaft 41 is a selector or transfer mechanism 80 which takes signatures and flyleaves from the sections 4 and 5 and places them in a track structure 81 of portion 14 where they are moved by an advancing mechanism 82 also driven from the shaft 41. Since the shaft 41 is a principal drive shaft, it is preferred that the safety clutch mechanism 43 be positioned in the drive therefor so that if the resistance to the operation of any part driven from the drive shaft 41 becomes too great the drive will slip. An example of a safety clutch is shown in FIG. 11 wherein the sprocket 40 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 41 between a drive collar 84 secured to the shaft 41 in driving relation thereto by a key 85 and a collar 86 suitably fixed on the shaft 41 to retain the sprocket face 87 against the face 88 of the drive collar 84. The sprocket 40 has a plurality of recesses 89 opening at the face 87 for receiving balls 91) movably mounted in bores 91 in the drive collar and urged by springs 92 into the recesses 89 to effect driving engagement between the sprocket and the drive collar. Adjusting screws 93 are arranged in the drive collar to vary the force acting on the balls to hold same in the recesses 89. If the force required for driving of the shaft 41 becomes too great, overcoming the spring pressure, the balls 90 will ride out of the recesses 89, compressing the springs 91 to free the drive connection between the sprocket 40 and the drive collar 34.

Under normal operation, there is a drive connection from the sprocket 413 to the drive collar 84 and, in turn, to the drive shaft 41, providing a drive to the feed conveyors 15 and 16, the transfer mechanism 80 and the advancing mechanism 82, for moving the signatures 9 and the fiyleaf members 11 from their respective stacks in sections 4 and 5 and arranging same in sets and delivering them to the receiving end 94 of cooperative belts 95 and 96 that move the sets through the taping or stripping mechanism of section 3 of the apparatus.

In the structure illustrated, the track 81 is generally U-shaped with opposed sections 81 and 81 and extends from adjacent the wall 21 beyond the wall 19 to the receiving end 94 of the belts 95 and 96 on section 3 of the apparatus. The track sections 81' and 81 have bottom portions 97 and 97 respectively, substantially flat upper surfaces 98 and respective side walls 99 and that extend upwardly from the surfaces 98 and then diverge outwardly to form a trough. A vertical partition 102 starts substantially at the wall 20 and extends from the outer wall inwardly and then longitudinally between the sections whereby the partition 102 substantially divides the trough in the portion below the section 4. The track 81 is substantially horizontal and is so positioned below the discharge end of the feeder conveyors that the items in section 5 are transferred from the respective feeder downwardly into the trough portion 101 thereunder. The items in section 4 are transferred, as later described, from the feeders downwardly to the trough portion between the partition 102 and the wall 109. The track sections are adjustably supported by longitudinally spaced brackets 103 with suitable means to vertically move the sections and secure them in selected relation. In the structure illustrated, each section is moved by adjusting screws 193' and when in selected elevation are secured by screws 1%". The sections are vertically adjustable, but are maintained horizontal so the lower edges of the work pieces have the same relation in their travel along the track and deliver to the section 3 of the apparatus. To aid in guiding the items into the respective portions of the trough, the brackets 103 support a plurality of fingers 104 spaced apart longitudinally along the track 81 and extending substantially upright outwardly of and adjacent the wall 100. These fingers 104 extend from the end of the track adjacent the wall 21 to adjacent the wall 19 where the track 81 extends through an opening 105 therein that is of such shape and size to permit passage of the sets of signatures and flyleaves therethrough. Mounted between the track 81 and the table or platform 77 is the advancing mechanism 82, and extending upwardly therefrom is an upright post 106 on which is adjustably mounted a guide rail 107 that extends longitudinally of the track above the wall 99 so as to serve as an upper guide for the item that was in the feed section 5 and delivered to the track 81 and moved therealong.

A second guide rail 108 extends from the wall 20 and is of the same contour as the partition 102 and is spaced thereabove to be alongside the rail 107 to cooperate therewith and with the walls 99 and 100 of the track 81 and partition 1112 to guide the signature 9 and flyleaf items 11 as they are moved along the track.

The transfer mechanism 80 includes a plurality of suction cups 111) mounted on tubular fingers 111 extending outwardly from a hollow manifold 112 that communicates through a flexible tube or hose 113 with a suction control box 114 which has a passage 115 communicating the hose 113 with a passage 116 that has one end communicating through a duct 117 with the intake side of the pump 22. The other end of the passage 116 communicates with the atmosphere and is normally closed by a valve member 118 pivotally mounted as at 119 and actuated by a cam 120 on a shaft 121 that is operatively connected with and driven from the shaft 41 by means of a chain and sprocket drive 122, the drive and cam 120 being such that the valve closes the passage 116 whereby the pump draws a suction through the suction cups for a selected interval during the rotation of the shaft 121, and opens the port or passage 116 to release said suction at the other time during the rotation. The manifold 112 is carried on arms 124 which include rods 125 that are reciprocably mounted in bearing members 126 whereby the manifold is positioned in spaced relation to the feeder sections with the fingers 194 therebetween and the suction cups 110 arranged to be and move vertically between the fingers 104, and said manifold moved toward and away from said feeder sections, as later described.

The bearing members 126 are fixed on carriers or carriages 127 that are slidably mounted on vertical guide rods 128 which have their upper ends fixed to a longitudinal frame member 129 and lower ends fixed to brackets 130 which support bearing members 131 that rotatably mount the shaft 121. Said shaft is further supported by bearing members 132 which, together with the vacuum control member 114, are mounted on a frame member 133 that also extends longitudinally of the machine. A crank arm 134 is fixed on the shaft 121 and is connected by a link 135 to the carriage 127 to effect vertical reciprocation of the carriage in its path guided by the guide rods 128 so that the suction fingers and manifold are moved up and down with each revolution of the shaft 121.

There are separate transfer mechanisms 80 for the feeding sections 4 and and the mechanism heretofore described relative thereto is the same for each section so there can be some variation in the timing of the transfer of the items from the feeding sections to the track 81, if desired. However, they could be transferred at the same time with a single transfer unit wherein the manifold 112 would be of sufiicient length to extend along each of the feeding sections but the separate transfer mechanisms 80 are preferred.

To effect the reciprocation of the arms 124, parallel vertically spaced shafts 136 and 137 are rotatably supported in bearings 138 and 139 respectively.

In the structure illustrated, the bearing members 138 and 139 for the shafts 136 and 137 respectively for the section 4 are carried on the walls 19 and 20 and the bearing members for said shafts for the section 5 are carried on the walls 20 and 21. Each of the shafts of each section are operatively connected by means of flexible driving members such as chains 140 that engage sprockets 141 and 142 on the shafts 136 and 137 respectively. The shafts 136 are driven by means of chains 143 and sprockets 144 on the shaft 121. Fixed on the shaft 136 and 137 are cam members 145 and 146 respectively that are the same shape with the peripheries thereof engaging rollers 147 mounted on a plate 148 that is vertically arranged with rods 149 fixed thereto and slidably mounted in bearing members 150 fixed to spaced upright plate members 151 carried on hearing members 152 that are rotatably mounted on the shafts 136 and 137 so that said plates 151 are supported from said shafts. Springs 153 operatively connect the plates 151 with the plate 148 to bias said plate 148 toward the bearing members, thereby maintaining engagement of the rollers 147 with the cam peripheries, the cams in their rotation normally holding the plate member 148 spaced outwardly and permitting movement of the plate 148 toward said bearing members only when a dwell point 154 of the cams engages the rollers 147. The arrangement of the cams and dwells thereof with the rollers provides a parallel motion of the plate 148. Fixed to the plate 148 are spaced flanges 155 that slidably engage the plates 151 and have guides 156 thereon for receiving rollers 157 on opposite ends 158 of the arms 124. The guides have vertical portions 159 with curved upper end portions 160 that extend toward the feeder sections.

In operation of the transfer mechanism 80, the arrangement of the guides 156 and the cams 145 and 146 is such that as the shaft 121 is rotated, the link 135 moves the carriage 127 upwardly on the guide rods 128 to substantially the upper end of its travel wherein the rollers 157 move into the curved portions 160 of the guides 156 causing the arms 124 to move toward the feeder section, moving the manifold 112 and suction cup members thereon toward the items in the respective feeding section. During this inward movement of the manifold, the dwell portion 154 of the cams 145 and 146 engages the rollers 147 whereby the springs 153 move the plate 148 to effect a further movement of the arms 124 toward the feeder sections and thereby engage the suction cup members 110 with the foremost signature or fiyleaf item in the respective section, as illustrated in FIG. 5. The cam is such that while the dwell of the cams and 146 effects engagement of the suction cup members with the item to be moved from the feeder section, the valve 118 closes the outlet of the passage 116 so that suction is applied to the respective suction cup members 110. Rotation of the cams 145 and 146 then causes the plate 148 to be retracted, drawing the manifold 112 and suction cup members 110 away from the feeder sections bending the fold portion of the item whereby it will move beyond the stop portion 70 due to the movement causing the signature item to bow between said stop and the lowermost roller 72. Then, the rotation of the shaft 121 causes the link 135 to move the carriage 127 downwardly which causes the roller 157 to move in the curved portion and the guide 156 to cause further retraction of the arms 124 and manifold 112 so that the lower portion of the item will clear the stop and is moved downwardly with the suction cup members whereby the fold is below the upper ends of the fingers 1134. After the lower or folded edges of the signatures or fiyleaf item moves downwardly below the upper ends of the fingers 104, the suction is interrupted so that the particular item will drop by gravity into its respective portion of the track 81 to be guided by the walls thereof and the partition 102 and guide rails 106 and 107.

The advancing mechanism 82 preferably includes an endless chain 161 that operates around sprockets mounted on shafts 162 and 163 arranged in a guide housing 164 whereby the chain 161 moves in a generally horizontal plane slightly above the track member 81. In the structure illustrated, the guide housing 164 includes a bottom wall 165 arranged between the track 81 and the table 77 and having spaced upright Wall members 166 and 167 arranged in upright relation thereon and supporting a top wall member 168 thereon. The wall members 166 and 167 are arranged between the runs of the chain 161 and serve as guides whereby the opposed runs extend substantially in parallel relation, said runs engaging the outer surfaces of the walls. The bottom wall and top wall members 165 and 168 extend outwardly from the upright walls 166 and 167 and on their adjacent faces are guide members which provide guide grooves 169 and 170 respectively. Arranged at spaced intervals on the chain 161 are item-moving fingers that are in the form of flat blades 172 that extend outwardly from and are fixed to arms 173 that are pivotally mounted on lugs 174 of selected chain links 175. Arranged on the arms 173 are opposed members carrying rollers 1'76 and 177 that are spaced from the pivotal axis of the arms and engage in the guide grooves 169 and 170 respectively. These grooves are arranged whereby in substantially the entire path of travel of the chains the fingers extend outwardly in a plane normal to the path of the chain except in the portion of said path adjacent the section 3 of the apparatus, as later described.

The chain 121 is driven from the shaft 41 by means of bevel gears 178 and 179 mounted on the shaft 41 and the shaft 163 respectively. The driving engagement from the shaft 163 to the sprocket 180 thereon is through an overrunning clutch 181 of conventional structure. This provides a continuous operation of the chain 161 and the path of the chain is such that the fingers 172 and the run next to the track 81 will extend outwardly and move behind an item in said track that has been deposited or delivered from the feeding section 5. This finger will move the item, as for example a flyleaf item 11, forwardly in the track 81 and then through the guide rails and partition said item is moved in the portion of the track between the wall 99 and partition 102 whereby it will be alongside of the item, for example a signature delivered from the feed section 4.

The transfer members 80 preferably are arranged relative to the fingers 172 whereby an item is delivered or transferred from the feed section to the track 81 and then engaged by a finger 172 to be advanced as the transfer mechanism for the feed section 4 is delivering an item therefrom to the track 81, and then when the item from the feed section -5 is moved whereby the trailing edge thereof aligns with the item from the feed section 4 they are both simultaneously moved as a set in the track in registering relation by the finger 172, and as they are advanced another item can be transferred from the feed section 5 to the track 81 for the next set.

The chain 121 and the fingers 172 actuated thereby advance the sets of signatures 9 and flyleaf members 11 in the track 81 beyond the wall 19 whereby the leading edges of the set are engaged by the belts 95 and 96 for further movement through the section 3 of the apparatus. It is desired that when the sections are engaged by the belts 95 and 96 that there will be small spacing between the feeding sections. Since the items from the respective feed stations are spaced apart and are moved by the fingers into registering relation for the sets, the rate of travel of the sets as actuated by the fingers 172 is greater than the rate effected by the belts 95 and 96 to close the gap between the sets. Therefore, not only must there be a timed relation of the drive but also the fingers 172 must release their engagement with the sets at the time the sets are engaged by the belts 95 and 96. Since the signatures may vary in their longitudinal length along the path of the track 81, this point of release may vary in distance from the entry 94 of the belts 95 and 96. In order to effect the release of the fingers 172, the inner guide track members 183 of the tracks 169 and 170 adjacent the track 81 terminate as at 184 which has a spacing from the guide belts 95 and 96 at the entry thereof greater than any anticipated longitudinal length of the signatures or flyleaf members. The rollers 176 and 177 are arranged on the arms 173 whereby they trail the pivotal connection 174 so that rearward pressure on the outer ends of the fingers 172 as exerted by the signatures holds the rollers against the inner members 183 of the guides 169 and 170. In order to maintain the engagement for the shorter signatures, the upper inner guide member 183 is narrower than the width of the roller 177 and a guide member 185 is slidably mounted on the guide member 183 for movement longitudinally thereof so as to extend beyond the end 184. The guide member 185 is arranged in a slot in the wall 168 and has a bracket 186 that extends over said wall to mount a plate 187 that depends alongside of the housing 164 and carries a roller 188 positioned to be engaged by the arm 173 substantially at the same time as the roller 177 moves beyond the end 189 of the guide 185 so that the roller 188 through its engagement by the arm 173 stops forward movement of the arm and causes it to be retracted as permitted by the roller 177 no longer having any support from the guide member 185 as shown in FIG. 10. The stop member 187 and the roller 188 thereon, together with the guide 185, are selectively positioned to effect disengagement of the respective finger 172 with the set of signature and flyleaf simultaneously as the forward or leading edge of said set is engaged by the belts and 96 for continued movement in the section 3 of the apparatus. When the roller 188 is in proper position, it is secured in position by a suitable fastening device, for example, a set screw 190.

In the section 3, the belts 95 and 96 are engaged by a plurality of rollers 191 to hold said belts pressed together to clampingly engage the signature and flyleaf items in the set, said belts engaging the sets in upwardly spaced relation to the registering folded edges thereof. As the sets are moved through the section 3 in a straight line path, the fold edges are engaged by a suitable glue applicator 192 to apply glue to the folded edges and between the items on facing margins adjacent the folds. The sets move on in held together relation for securing as by plain tipping, or stripped with tape for added strength, or for applying tape in making exposed joint end sheets, or for units having back edges of end sheets below the back edge of the signatures, then banding or wrapping the margin of said end sheet around the back edge of the signature for tipping and then applying reinforcing cloth therearound and extending slightly beyond the edge of said tipped sheet on said signature. A tape 193 gummed or ungummed and preferably fabric is fed from a roll 194 to an applicator 195 for gluing or moistening one face 196 of the tape 193. The tape is then fed over an idler roller 197 mounted on an arm 198 and is biased to maintain tension on said tape. The tape then moves in a half turn or twist as at 199 under a roller 200 and over rollers 201, 202, and 203, which apply the tape to the fold edges of the signature and flyleaf sets and turns same upwardly on the outer margins and then the tape 193 is wiped by wipers 204 into engagement with said margins to tape the items of the set together. As the spaced sets are then moved on through the machine, a suitable detector 205 detects the slight space between adjacent sets and actuates a suitable clutch to rotate a cutting blade 206 to cut the tape between said sets. The separated sets are then moved by the belts 95 and 96 to the discharge 207 to deposit said taped sets on a suitable table or conveyor 208 for further processing.

The section 3 or stripper section of the apparatus is driven from the motor 24 by a chain 209 operatively connected to a sprocket 210 on a shaft 211 that extends from the section 2 to the section 3 of the apparatus and there has an operative connection to a shaft 212 that drives the pulleys for moving the belts 95 and 96 and also the other operating equipment of the stripping apparatus.

The structure and operation above described is normal operation when on each complete reciprocation of the carriages 127 and the suction cups a work piece is removed from each feeder section and transferred to the track 81. The apparatus is also provided with a miss detector whereby if the work piece transfer mechanism does not receive a workpiece from a feeded section the entire machine is stopped. An embodiment of the system for this safety action is illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 14. The motor 24' is connected by electrical conductors 215 and 216 with a suitable source of electric current. A relay switch 217 is in the conductors 215 and 216 and adapted to interrupt the circuit to the motor 24 on detor 222 are the switch 221 and a switch 224.

energization of the relay coil 218. In the structure illustrated, the work pieces are moved by suction members having cups 110 from the feeder sections and when the valve 118 of the control box is closed the pressure in the passages 115 and 116 drops when the cups 110 are engaged with a work piece such as the signature or end sheets. This change in pressure is utilized as the signal as to whether there is miss. The pressure change sensing mechanism 219 includes a valve member 220 and a microswitch 221 actuated thereby. The relay coil 218 is normally energized through electrical conductors 222 and 223, and arranged in parallel circuit in the conduc- The switch 221 is normally in circuit-breaking position. The switch 224 is actuated by a cam and is in circuit-making position except when actuated by a lobe 225 of a cam 226 on the shaft 41 which is connected to the shaft 121 to make one revolution for each reciprocation of the carriage 127. The lobe 225 is positioned to open switch 224 at the time the suction cups 110 are retracted and start their downward movement. The valve 226 is urged by gravity or otherwise to close a port 227 to atmosphere, said port being from a valve chamber 228 which communicates through an orifice 229 with the air flow passage between the pump 23 and the suction cups 110, as for example passage 115, the orifice 229 being such that with the valve 220 open air passing through said orifice is insufficient to release the work pieces from the suction cups 110. The valve 220 has an arm 230 that actuates the switch 221 to close the circuit to the relay coil 218 when the valve is open. As the suction cups 110 move toward the work pieces in the feeder sections and the valve 118 is closed so air is drawn into the suction cups 110 through the tubes 111, manifold 112, conduit 113, passages 115 and 116 to the pump, the valve 220 remains closed. If the suction cups receive and move work pieces, the closing of the suction cups thereby reduces the pressure in the air passage and the valve 220 is pulled open by said pressure reduction. This closes switch 221 so current energizes relay coil 218 when switch 224 is opened momentarily by the cam lobe 225 and the machine continues to operate. If no work piece is received,'the pressure drop in passage 115 does not occur, the switch 221 remains in circuit-breaking positon, and when the switch 224 is opened momentarily the coil 218 is de-energized and switch 217 opens the circuit to the motor 24' stopping the machine.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described one form of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement of parts herein shown and described except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for feeding a plurality of sheets and securing same together along one edge, a first station, means at said first station for containing a plurality of sheets on edge, a second station, means at said second station for containing a plurality of other sheets on edge, means at each station moving the respective groups in a direction normal to the plane of the leading sheet thereof to position each said leading sheet at a delivery point of the respective station, an elongate means defining a path having a portion for receiving the lead-ing sheet of the first-named sheets and a second portion for receiving the leading sheet of the other sheets with one in advance of the other, means operable to engage the leading sheets of the respective groups at the delivery points at the respective stations and move said sheets therefrom and deposit same on said one edge in the respective receiving portions of the defined path, means operable and movable in said defined path to engage one of said sheets and advance same into position alongside the other sheet and then advance both in registry as a set along said defined path, a conveyor means with a receiving end positioned relative to said defined path and timed 22 relative to the feeding of the sets of sheets to receive same from the defined path in a predetermined spaced relation, and means adjacent the run of the conveyor means securing the sets of sheets together at said registering one edges.

2. A machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the means engaging the sheets in the defined path to move same therealong include an endless flexible member having a run adjacent said path with outwardly extending fingers pivotally mounted thereon with means along said run to hold said fingers outwardly as they move along said defined path to engage the rear of the sheets to move same therealong, and means selectively positioned along said defined path to move said fingers out of engagement with said sheets.

3. In a machine for combining signatures, and backing and fiyleaf members and securing same together adjacent one edge, elongate means defining a path, a signature station, means at said signature station for containing a plurality of signature sheets and having a delivery point, a back and flyleaf member station, means at said back and fiyleaf member station for containing a plurality of back and fiyleaf members and having a delivery point, the delivery points of said means at the respective stations being spaced apart on said defined path that extends generally transversely of said stations, means moving said signatures in a group in a direction normal to the plane of the leading one to position said leading one at the respective delivery point of the containing means at the signature station, means moving said back and flyleaf members in a group in a direction normal to the plane of the leading one to position said leading one at the respective delivery point of the containing means at the back and flyleaf member station, said defined path having a signature receiving portion and a back and fiyleaf member receiving portion with one in advance of the other, means operable to engage the leading signature and the leading back and fiyleaf member at the delivery points of the containing means I at the respective stations and move same therefrom and deposit same on one edge in the respective receiving portions of the defined path, means operable and movable in said defined path to engage one of said signatures and back and fiyleaf members and advance same into position alongside the other and then advance both in registery along said defined path, a conveyor means having a receiving end positioned relative to said defined path and timed relative to the feeding of the signatures and back and 'flyleaf members to receive same from the defined path in a predetermined spaced relation, means adjacent the run of the conveyor and operative to secure the respective signature and back and flyleaf members together in a set adjacent said one edge thereof.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein relatively adjustable track means form the receiving portions of the defined path for the back and flyleaf members and the signatures with each of the back and fiyleaf members and the signatures having back edges with the back edges of the signatures defined by folds, and wherein the means operable to engage the signatures and the back and flyleaf members at the respective delivery points of the container means move the signatures and back and flyleaf members to the respective track means of the defined path and position same in substantially upright position with said back edges downwardly.

5. A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein the containing means at each of the signature station and the back and 'fiyleaf member station have laterally spaced flexible conveyor members and stop members at the delivery ends thereof and spaced thereabove to define a delivery point for signatures arranged in a plurality in substantially upright position with the back edges downwardly and engaging said conveyor members to continuously urge the signatures toward the stop members, said means delivering the signatures and back and flyleaf members from the containing means at the respective stations to the defined path including suction feet and a carrier moved in an up and down path and a suction means connected thereto and timed to apply suction when the feet are engaged with the leading one of the signature and back and fiyleaf member at the respective station and interrupt said suction when the feet are moved with said one of the signatures and back and fiyleaf members downwardly to position same in the receiving portion of the defined path.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein the means engaging the signature and back and fiyleaf members in the defined path to move same therealong include an endless flexible member having a run adjacent said path with outwardly extending fingers pivotally mounted thereon with means along said run to hold said fingers outwardly as they move along said defined path to engage the rear of the signatures and back and fiyleaf members to move same therealong, and means selectively positioned along said defined path to move said fingers out of engagement with said signature-s and back and fiyleaf members, said flexible member moving at a greater speed than the conveyor means with the finger release member selectively spaced from the receiving end of said conveyor means relative to the length of the signature sets along said defined path for regulating the spacing between adjacent sets as they are moved by the conveyor means.

7. A machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein variable speed drives are operatively connected to the group moving members at the respective stations, the flexible member having the fingers and the conveyor means that are adjustable to selective relative speeds to accommodate different thicknesses and sizes of signatures or work pieces.

8. A machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein the back and fiyleaf members are single sheets connected together on a fold line and the signatures are each a plurality of sheets secured together with back edges defined by folds and the signatures and the back and fiyleaf members are moved to the defined path to position same in substantially upright position with said fold edges downwardly, and means along said defined path for supporting the signatures and back and fiyleaf members in substantially upright position with said fold edges in the same plane and moved to registry as they are moved along said defined path.

9. A machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein each of the containing means at the signature station and the back and fiyleaf member station have laterally spaced fiexible conveyor members and stop members at the delivery ends thereof and spaced thereabove to define a delivery point for signatures arranged in a plurality in sub-stantially upright posit-ion with the back edges downwardly and engaging said conveyor members to continually urge the signatures toward the stop members, said feeder members including suction feet and a carrier moved in an up and down path and a suction means connected thereto and timed to apply suction when the feet are engaged with the leading signature at the respective station and interrupt said suction when the feet are moved with the signature downwardly to position same in the receiving portion of the defined path.

10. A machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein the means engaging the signature and back and fi'yleaf members in the defined path to move same therealong include an endless flexible member having a run adjacent said path with outwardly extending fingers pivotally mounted thereon with means along said run to hold said fingers rigidly outwardly as they move along said defined path to engage the rear of the signatures and back and fiyleaf members to move same therealong, and means selectively positioned along said defined path to move said fingers out of engagement with said signatures and back and fiylea-f members, said flexible member moving at a greater speed than the pair of conveyor belts with the finger release member selectively spaced from the receiving end of said conveyor belts relative to the length of the signature sets along said defined path for regulating the spacing between adjacent sets as they are moved by the conveyor belts.

1-1. In a machine for combining signatures, and backing and fiyleaf members, and securing same together adjacent fold edges thereof, .a signature station, means at said signature station for containing a plurality of signatures with each having a fold at an edge thereof and positioned upright on said fold, a second static-n, means at said second station for containing a plurality of folded sheets forming back and fiyleaf members in upright position on said folds, said containing means at the respective stations each having delivery points, means moving said signatures in a group in a direction normal to the plane of the leading one to position said leading one at the respective delivery point of the containing means of the respective station, means moving said back and fiyleaf members in a group in a direction normal to the plane of the leading one to position said leading one at the respective delivery point of the containing means of the respective station, elongate means defining a path having a signature receiving portion and a back and fiyleaf member receiving portion with one in advance of the other, means operable to engage the leading signature at the delivery point of the containing means at the signature station and the leading back and fiyleaf member at the delivery point of the containing means at said second station and move same therefrom and deposit same with the folds down in the respective receiving portions of the defined path, means operable and movable in said defined path to engage one of said signatures and back and fiyleaf members and advance same into position alongside the other and then advance both in registry along said defined path and maintain the fold edges in registry, a pair of conveyor belts having engaged runs with a receiving end positioned relative to said defined path and timed relative to the feeding of the signatures and back and fiyleaf members to receive same from the defined path in a predetermined spaced relation, means adjacent the run of the conveyor belts applying glue and tape to the registering fold edges of the respective signature and back and fiyleaf members to tape same together in a set.

12. In a machine for feeding signatures, backing and fiyleaf members, and gluing and taping same, elongate means defining a path, a signature station, means at said signature station for containing a plurality of signatures, a back and fiyleaf member station, means at said back and fiyleaf member station for containing a plurality of such members, the containing means at said stations each having delivery points spaced apart on said defined path that extends generally transversely of the containing means at said stations, means moving said signatures in a group in a direction normal to the plane of the leading one to position said leading one at the respective delivery point of the containing means at the respective station, means moving said back and fiyleaf members in a group in a direction normal to the plane of the leading one to position said leading one at the respective delivery point of the containing means at the respective station, said defined path having a signature receiving portion and a back and fiyleaf member receiving portion with one in advance of the other, means operable to engage the leading signature at the delivery point of the containing means at the respective station and the leading back and fiyleaf member at the delivery point of the containing means atthe respective station and move same therefrom and deposit same in the respective receiving portions of the defined path, means operable and movable in said defined path to engage one of said signatures and back and fiyleaf members and advance same into position alongside the other and then advance both in registry along said defined path, a pair of conveyor belts having engaged runs with a receiving end positioned relative to said defined path and timed relative to the feeding of the signatures and back and fiyleaf members to receive same from the defined path in a predetermined spaced-relation, means adjacent the run of the conveyor belts applying glue and tape to one of the registering edges of the respective signature and back and flyleaf members to tape same together in a set, and cutter means operable as said set is moved with the conveyor belts to out said tape between adjacent sets to separate same.

13. A machine as set forth in claim 12 wherein the means moving the signatures and back and fiyleaf members from the delivery points of the containing means at the respective stations to the respective receiving portions in the defined path include suction members, an air pump system for drawing air therethr-ough and valve timing means for permitting air flow from the suction members to the pump system during said movement of the respective signatures and back and flyleaf members and interrupting said air flow suction for release of said signatures and back and flyleaf members.

14. A machine as set forth in claim 13 where-in timed means responsive to pressure in the air pump system at the movement time of said signatures and back and flyleaf members signalling a miss operates to stop the machine.

1'5. A machine as set forth in claim 12 wherein the back and fiyleaf members are single sheets connected together on a fold line and the signatures are each a plurality of sheets secured together with back edges defined by folds and the signatures and the back and fiyleaf members are moved to the defined path to position same in substantially upright position with said fold edges downwardly, and means along said defined path for support ing the signatures and back and flyleaf members in substantially upright position with said fold edges in the same plane and moved to registry as they are moved along said defined path.

16. A machine as set forth in claim 12 wherein the containing means at each of the signature station and the back and fiyleaf member station have laterally spaced flexible conveyor members and stop members at the delivery ends thereof and spaced thereabove to define a delivery point for signatures arranged in a plurality in substantially upright position with the back edges downwardly and engaging said conveyor members to continuously urge the signatures toward the stop members, said feeder members including suction feet and a carrier moved in an up and down path and a suction means connected thereto and timed to apply suction when the feet are engaged with the leading signature in the containing means of the respective station and interrupt said suction when the feet are moved with the signature downwardly to position same in the receiving portion of the defined path.

17. A machine as set forth in claim 15 wherein means responsive to absence of a signature and back and flyleaf member being engaged with said suction feet as they are moved from the respective delivery points of the containing means at the respective stations effects stopping of the machine.

18. A machine as set forth in claim 16 wherein the means engaging the signature and back and fiyleaf members in the defined path to move same therealong include an endless flexible member having a run adjacent said path with outwardly extending fingers pivotally mounted thereon with means along said run to hold said fingers rigidly outwardly as they move along said defined path to engage the rear of the signatures and back and flyleaf members to move same therealong, and means selectively positioned along said defined path to move said fingers out of engagement with said signatures and back and fiyleaf members, said flexible member moving at a greater speed than the pair of conveyor belts with the finger release member selectively spaced from the receiving end of said conveyor belts relative to the length of the signature sets along said defined path for regulating the spacing between adjacent sets as they are moved by the conveyor belts.

-19. A machine as set forth in claim 18 wherein variable speed drives are operatively connected to the station group moving members, the flexible member having the fingers and the conveyor belts that are adjustable to selective relative speeds to accommodate different thicknesses and sizes of signatures or work pieces.

No references cited.

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner. N. M. ELLISON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A MACHINE FOR FEEDING A PLURALITY OF SHEETS AND SECURING SAME TOGETHER ALONG ONE EDGE, A FIRST STATION, MEANS AT SAID FIRST STATION FOR CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF SHEETS ON EDGE, A SECOND STATION, MEANS AT SAID SECOND STATION FOR CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF OTHER SHEETS ON EDGE, MEANS AT EACH STATION MOVING THE RESPONSIVE GROUPS IN A DIRECTION NORMAL TO THE PLANE OF THE LEADING SHEET THEREOF TO POSITION EACH SAID LEADING SHEET AT A DELIVERY POINT OF THE RESPECTIVE STATION, AN ELONGATE MEANS DEFINING A PATH HAVING A PORTION FOR RECEIVING THE LEADING SHEET OF THE FIRST-NAMED SHEETS AND A SECOND PORTION FOR RECEIING THE LEADING SHEET OF THE OTHER SHEETS WITH ONE IN ADVANCE OF THE OTHER, MEANS OPERABLE TO ENGAGE THE LEADING SHEETS OF THE RESPECTIVE GROUPS AT THE DELIVERY POINTS AT THE RESPECTIVE STATIONS AND MOVE SAID SHEETS THEREFROM AND DEPOSITE SAME ON SAID ONE EDGE IN THE RESPECTIVE RECEIVING PORTIONS OF THE DEFINED PATH, MEANS OPERABLE AND MOVABLE IN SAID DEFINED PATH TO ENGAGE ONE OF SAID SHEETS AND ADVANCE SAME INTO POSITION ALONGSIDE THE OTHER SHEET AND THEN ADVANCE BOTH IN REGISTRY AS A SET ALONG SAID DEFINED PATH, A CONVEYOR MEANS WITH A RECEIVING END POSITINE RELATIVE TO SAID DEFINED PATH AND TIMED RELATIVE TO THE FEEDING OF THE SETS OF SHEETS TO RECEIVE SAME FROM THE DEFINED PATH IN A PREDETERMINED SPACED RELATION, AND MEANS ADJACENT THE RUN OF THE CONVEYOR MEAN SECURING THE SETS OF SHEETS TOGETHER AT SAID REGISTERING ONE EDGES. 